Technology Resources

Technology

Digital Learning 2017

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Tia Turner- Educational Technology Specialist

Petroglyph's Philosophy of Technology Education

The use of technology is very important to our society. All students are provided equitable opportunities to use technology as one of many tools in their learning process. It is our belief that students learn best when they are engaged in meaningful activities where they are able to work with others in order to construct a product that shows their knowledge. Technology is always used with close supervision by adults and clear learning objectives.

Petroglyph's Commitment to Technology Education

We are thrilled to be implementing iPads in our teaching and learning. There is quite a buzz about how much fun learning can be with this amazing tool.

iPod Touches are used to increase student reading fluency. When students listen to their own recorded reading they will identify mistakes and make corrections when recording for a second time. This way students can practice fluency and expression until they get it just right. Self-correction is a powerful learning tool.

Interactive whiteboards (Promethean Boards) allow teachers to present materials to students in a dynamic, interactive and engaging format. Students respond to this type of instruction and hands-on learning in ways never encountered with traditional pencil and paper.

Student response systems (ActiVotes) are individual hand held electronic devices that allow full class participation when students respond to curricular questions and discussions. Each student has the opportunity to participate, giving teachers a clear picture of individual and overall understanding.

The intermediate computer lab ("CyberSpace") is home to 28 multimedia PC computers, a scanner a projection system and an interactive whiteboard.

The primary computer lab ("The Mouse House") has 28 multimedia PC computers, a scanner a projection system and an interactive whiteboard.

100% of the school is fully networked both wired and wireless. Students and staff save projects to the file server so that they can have access to their work from any computer in the school.

Teachers are involved in ongoing professional development with technology such as study groups, grade level collaboration, classes on iPads in education and Promethean Board use and lesson development. We are doing our best to stay current with all the new technology that is continually evolving.

Petroglyph has a full time educational technology specialist on staff which is vital to acquiring new technology, keeping it running smoothly and guiding technology infused instruction.

Technology Curriculum

Teachers develop lessons that integrate technology with the theme or learning concepts they are studying. All Kindergarten through fifth grade classes work in the computer lab one day a week for sixty minutes. Students can continue work in their classrooms on their classroom computers. Our technology curriculum is guided by several of the following sources:

Volunteer Opportunities

Ways you might consider volunteering are: assist your child's class during their computer lab time or in the classroom, offer your expertise in hardware, software or network, or help expand and support the school's web page. If you would like to help with the technology program at Petroglyph, please speak with your child's teacher, or the Technology Coordinator Tia Turner .

Internet Access

TheAcceptable Use Policy for APSis online. Student may create web pages or publish their work on the Web. In order to publish on the web, a Permission to Publish form must be signed and returned. Some of the web sites teachers and students find useful can be found on the student web page.

Hardware, Software, Network and Peripheral Devices

CyberSpace is the name of our computer lab for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students.

The Mouse House is the name of our computer lab for Kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade students.

In April of 2004 we opened our newest computer lab for primary students. We call it "The Mouse House" because our computer mice are specially decorated as ladybugs, bumblebees and frogs. The keyboards, furniture, and software were chosen to be developmentally appropriate for our younger learners. There are 28 PC computers, a projector, a Promethean Board and two laser printers that also assist our teaching and learning.

Our teachers are finding laptop computers to be very beneficial for developing curriculum and professional productivity.

The types of software we use for productivity are Microsoft Office, Timeliner, Kidspiration and KidPix. The third through fifth grade students use PowerPoint when creating multimedia presentations. They also use Excel to make charts, graphs and spreadsheets. Other publishing projects are accomplished using Microsoft Word and Publisher. The Kindergarten through second grade students use Word, for word processing and KidPix for multimedia presentations. We also have an assortment of educational software that the students enjoy learning with such as Kidspiration, KidKeys, Learn About Science, Type to Learn, Bailey's Book House, Millie's Math House, Sammy's Science House, and Trudy's Time and Place to mention a few.

All student save their work to a network server, where they can access their files from anywhere in the school. This provides security from loss and more flexibility to begin projects in the computer lab and finish them in classrooms. We have some fun multimedia tools to use as well. Popular tools include digital cameras and digital video cameras. Teachers and students love to take these on field trips and then import the pictures and video clips into their own multimedia field trip. With our scanners, students can scan artwork, pictures or personal treasures to use in a multimedia project as well.

In each classroom teachers use Promethean Boards and document cameras to present classroom materials in a large displays that are interactive.